Cutler to sit out Monday

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears were bracing for an injury to Jay Cutler long before the season started.

Now, they’ll see just how prepared they are.

Cutler will miss Monday’s game at San Francisco because of a concussion, leaving the Bears without their starting quarterback. The team announced the decision Friday, meaning Jason Campbell is the likely starter against the 49ers.

Star receiver Brandon Marshall said Cutler is getting better, but he also said there’s a bigger picture that goes beyond this week’s game.

“Our life, our health, is more important than football,” Marshall said. “I think we’ll get Jay back sooner than later.”

For now, the Bears believe they have enough to get by. They brought in Campbell in the offseason for a situation like this, and he found out before Thursday’s practice that he’ll be starting.

“You definitely don’t want to see anyone get hurt or injured in this business,” said Campbell, who’s made 70 starts in his career with Washington and Oakland. “We understand it is a tough sport. Sometimes, things like that happen.”

Coach Lovie Smith would not say if Cutler will make the trip to San Francisco. Players need to be cleared by team physicians and an independent neurological consultant before they can return, under NFL safety protocols. It’s possible that the Bears could hold him out even if he gets the OK from doctors.

When asked about that, all Smith would say is: “He’s not playing this week, and that’s about as much as I’m going to go into it.”

He added Cutler is getting better and the Bears hope to have him back for the game against Minnesota on Nov. 25.

Eagles QB Vick out; Foles to start at Washington

PHILADELPHIA — The news wasn’t surprising to Nick Foles.

Or anybody else, for that matter.

After all, the Eagles rookie quarterback had practiced with the first team all week, and the starter at his position, Michael Vick, hadn’t even touched the field since he left it with a concussion six days ago.

So, when Philadelphia coach Andy Reid on Friday officially ruled Vick out of Sunday’s game vs. Washington, and named Foles the starter, there weren’t many out there shocked by the expected proclamation. Certainly not the third-round pick from Arizona who has been preparing for his first NFL start his whole life.

“We’ve had a great week of preparation, a lot of hard work, and it definitely has sunk in,” Foles said. “I’m ready to go.”

Eagles fans certainly hope so.

When Foles and Philadelphia take the field Sunday in a matchup of disappointed 3-6 teams, there will be plenty at stake. Any chance of getting back in the NFC East race depends on this team making a run. Reid’s future — and perhaps even Foles’ as a full-time starter — also depend on it.

No pressure, or anything.

“We have a great group of guys here, great coaches. I feel great. I felt great ever since I got here. I felt like it’s a home. We have fun together. We have fun out there at practice together and in the locker room,” Foles said. “It’s a great environment to play in, it’s a great environment to go to work in. I feel comfortable in everything and I’m ready to go play for these guys.”

RB Mendenhall ready to return for Steelers

PITTSBURGH — Insisting he feels well with no setbacks after a full week of practice, running back Rashard Mendenhall is set to return for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Because of an Achilles injury, Mendenhall has missed all four games of a winning streak that the Steelers (6-3) carry into their Sunday showdown with the Baltimore Ravens (7-2).

Mendenhall had not been through a full practice in more than a month, but made it through complete workouts Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He is officially listed as probable.

“He looks like he’s back to his old form,” running back Isaac Redman said. “He’s making all the cuts, it looks like he has his burst. So he looks good.”

With former 1,200-yard rusher Mendenhall back, the Steelers have to decide how to split carries between he, Redman and Jonathan Dwyer. Redman and Dwyer each had 100-yard rushing games while Mendenhall was out.

“All three of us are going to play,” Redman said. “And we’re just going to keep it rolling throughout the game and try to keep a fresh running back in there at all times. We’re going to try to pound them.”

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out with his shoulder and rib injuries, Pittsburgh will lean on the run game against a Ravens defense that ranks 26th in the league in rushing yards allowed. Pittsburgh’s Byron Leftwich is making his first NFL start at quarterback in more than three years.

Ref Corrente fined for obscenities

NEW YORK — Referee Tony Corrente has been fined one game check by the NFL for uttering some obscenities with his microphone on during a Nov. 4 game in Indianapolis between the Colts and Miami Dolphins.

The fine was issued Friday by NFL officiating director Carl Johnson.

A referee of Corrente’s experience — 18 seasons — earns approximately $9,000 a game.

In the fourth quarter of the game, Corrente inadvertently left his microphone open during a conference with members of the officiating crew. During that conference, Corrente used obscenities that were heard by the crowd and the CBS television audience.

Tags: sports, nfl